Activating an iPhone - Made SIMPLE by Apple.

Leave it to Apple to finally make ACTIVATING a cell phone simple.

This is huge, and will leave Verizon, Nokia, T-Mobile in the dust. The
era of the painful activation process is now over, that is, if you have
an iPhone. Congrats to Apple for solving another major hassle in life!

The Video of how it works is at the bottom of this post... fun to watch!

----

Apple and AT&T announce do-it-yourself iPhone Activation and Sync via
iTunes

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 - 08:35 AM EDT

Apple and AT&T Inc. today announced that iPhone users will be able to
activate their new iPhones using Apple's popular iTunes software running
on a Mac or PC in the comfort and privacy of their own home or office,
without having to wait in a store while their phone is activated.
Activating iPhone takes only minutes as iTunes guides the user through
simple steps to choose their service plan, authorize their credit and
activate their iPhone.

Once iPhone is activated, users can then easily sync all of their phone
numbers and other contact information, calendars, email accounts, web
browser bookmarks, music, photos, podcasts, TV shows and movies just
like they do when they sync their iPods with iTunes.

"Users will be able to activate their new iPhone in the comfort and
privacy of their own home or office, without having to wait in a store
while their phone is activated," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, in the
press release. "There are tens of millions of people in the US who
already know how to sync their iPods with iTunes, and syncing their new
iPhone with iTunes works the same way."

"iPhone's user-driven activation is another example of how AT&T and
Apple have partnered to bring innovative new features to our customers,"
said Randall Stephenson, chairman and CEO, AT&T, in the press release.
"iPhone's innovative activation and sync is just one example of how this
is going to be a real industry game-changer."

iPhone introduces an entirely new user interface based on a
revolutionary multi-touch display and pioneering new software that
allows users to control iPhone with just a tap, flick or pinch of their
fingers. iPhone combines three products into one small and lightweight
handheld device-a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod, and the
Internet in your pocket with best-ever applications on a mobile phone
for email, web browsing and maps. iPhone ushers in an era of software
power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, which
completely redefines what users can do on their mobile phones.

iPhone goes on sale at 6:00 p.m. (local time) on Friday, June 29 and
will be sold in the US through Apple's retail and online stores and AT&T
retail stores. iPhone will be available in a 4GB model for US$499 and an
8GB model for $599 and will work with either a MAc or PC.

iPhone activation requires an Internet connection; an iTunes Store
account or a major credit card; a valid Social Security number (as
required by AT&T); the latest version of iTunes available at
http://www.itunes.com and a Mac or PC with a USB 2.0 port and one of the
following operating systems: Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later; Windows XP Home
or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later; or Windows Vista Home
Premium, Business, Enterprise or Ultimate Edition. iPhone requires a new
two-year AT&T service plan. Customers with existing AT&T accounts will
have the option of keeping their existing phone number and upgrading
their account to work with iPhone.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/usingiphone/activation.html

http://www.apple.com/iphone/easysetup/rateplans.html

And if you haven't yet seen the Tour of the iPhone, do it now.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/usingiphone/guidedtour.html

-

---

› See More: Activating an iPhone - Made SIMPLE by Apple.

On Jun 26, 4:35 pm, Oxford <[email protected]> wrote:
> Leave it to Apple to finally make ACTIVATING a cell phone simple.
>
> This is huge, and will leave Verizon, Nokia, T-Mobile in the dust. The
> era of the painful activation process is now over, that is, if you have
> an iPhone. Congrats to Apple for solving another major hassle in life!

Indeed - way to go Apple! No more dealing with arrogant sales punks,
yay!

[email protected] wrote:

> On Jun 26, 4:35 pm, Oxford <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Leave it to Apple to finally make ACTIVATING a cell phone simple.
> >
> > This is huge, and will leave Verizon, Nokia, T-Mobile in the dust. The
> > era of the painful activation process is now over, that is, if you have
> > an iPhone. Congrats to Apple for solving another major hassle in life!
>
> Indeed - way to go Apple! No more dealing with arrogant sales punks,
> yay!

yes! i've never understood why they have so many phone stores and
"punks" in the first place. sounds like they are making too much money
for no good reason. apple will put a stop to that in a hurry.

getting rid of the "go into a store" for activation concept is long over
due, and now the iPhone will make it standard across the industry for
every cell phone buyer. great!

In article
<[email protected]>,
Oxford <[email protected]> wrote:

> iPhone activation requires an Internet connection; an iTunes Store
> account or a major credit card; a valid Social Security number (as
> required by AT&T);

WTF? What the bloody hell does AT&T think they need your SSN for? Or
anyone else, for that matter? Your SSN is not a national ID card.

"Tim McNamara" <[email protected]> wrote:
> WTF? What the bloody hell does AT&T think they need your SSN for? Or
> anyone else, for that matter? Your SSN is not a national ID card.

Maybe the Federal security agencies make them do it so they can track
suspicious cell phone use?

R. P.

Tim McNamara <[email protected]> wrote:

> > iPhone activation requires an Internet connection; an iTunes Store
> > account or a major credit card; a valid Social Security number (as
> > required by AT&T);
>
> WTF? What the bloody hell does AT&T think they need your SSN for? Or
> anyone else, for that matter? Your SSN is not a national ID card.

no, but it is the key to credit records, so unless you give that key,
you'll use the iphone through regular 802.11.

"R. P." <[email protected]> wrote:

> > WTF? What the bloody hell does AT&T think they need your SSN for? Or
> > anyone else, for that matter? Your SSN is not a national ID card.
>
> Maybe the Federal security agencies make them do it so they can track
> suspicious cell phone use?

nope, it's only to gain credit info. for some reason, cell companies
think they are special and feel they must look into your credit before
they lock you into a "crazy" 2 year contract. they don't know that a
simpler way is to cut off phone access if you don't pay. contracts are
old world mafia concepts, cell phone companies are completely in the
dark on how to run a business on this one.

they'll learn, apple will teach them the more correct customer approach.

In article <[email protected]>,
Tim McNamara <[email protected]> wrote:

> In article
> <[email protected]>,
> Oxford <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > iPhone activation requires an Internet connection; an iTunes Store
> > account or a major credit card; a valid Social Security number (as
> > required by AT&T);
>
> WTF? What the bloody hell does AT&T think they need your SSN for? Or
> anyone else, for that matter? Your SSN is not a national ID card.

A credit check. This is standard procedure for this sort of thing these
days.

SSNs have become general-purpose ID numbers, and are essentially now
public information. Any value that once had for verifying identity is
gone. Which if fine, as long as nobody still assumes they have any value
for verifying identity. Unfortunately, not everyone does that. Notably
credit card companies, which leads to a lot of identity theft.

--
"That's George Washington, the first president, of course. The interesting thing
about him is that I read three--three or four books about him last year. Isn't
that interesting?"
- George W. Bush to reporter Kai Diekmann, May 5, 2006

In alt.cellular.verizon Oxford <[email protected]> wrote:

> nope, it's only to gain credit info. for some reason, cell companies
> think they are special and feel they must look into your credit before
> they lock you into a "crazy" 2 year contract. they don't know that a
> simpler way is to cut off phone access if you don't pay.

If they do that, what happens to the expensive phone they gave to you fro
free?

--
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so
certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.
-- Bertrand Russel

[email protected] wrote:

> > nope, it's only to gain credit info. for some reason, cell companies
> > think they are special and feel they must look into your credit before
> > they lock you into a "crazy" 2 year contract. they don't know that a
> > simpler way is to cut off phone access if you don't pay.
>
> If they do that, what happens to the expensive phone they gave to you fro
> free?

apple isn't allowing ATT to play silly games with the iphone. when you
buy an iPhone, it's YOURS, not tied to any funky contract. Only if you
want the proprietary minutes and uncertain levels of data access do you
pay the $59.99 a month fee.

but the phone is yours, ATT doesn't have any say on the phone. A first
for the industry.

once Skype, or Apple's rumored iTalk is on the iPhone, ATT is toast.

In article
<[email protected]>,
Oxford <[email protected]> wrote:

> "R. P." <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > > WTF? What the bloody hell does AT&T think they need your SSN for? Or
> > > anyone else, for that matter? Your SSN is not a national ID card.
> >
> > Maybe the Federal security agencies make them do it so they can track
> > suspicious cell phone use?
>
> nope, it's only to gain credit info. for some reason, cell companies
> think they are special and feel they must look into your credit before
> they lock you into a "crazy" 2 year contract. they don't know that a
> simpler way is to cut off phone access if you don't pay. contracts are
> old world mafia concepts, cell phone companies are completely in the
> dark on how to run a business on this one.

It probably also has to do with the fact that you could make a few
hundred bucks worth of phone calls, which you don't have to pay for
until after the fact. This essentially constitutes a loan on behalf of
the service provider to the customer.

> they'll learn, apple will teach them the more correct customer approach.

--
"That's George Washington, the first president, of course. The interesting thing
about him is that I read three--three or four books about him last year. Isn't
that interesting?"
- George W. Bush to reporter Kai Diekmann, May 5, 2006

In article
<[email protected]>,
Oxford <[email protected]> wrote:

> [email protected] wrote:
>
> > > nope, it's only to gain credit info. for some reason, cell companies
> > > think they are special and feel they must look into your credit before
> > > they lock you into a "crazy" 2 year contract. they don't know that a
> > > simpler way is to cut off phone access if you don't pay.
> >
> > If they do that, what happens to the expensive phone they gave to you fro
> > free?
>
> apple isn't allowing ATT to play silly games with the iphone. when you
> buy an iPhone, it's YOURS, not tied to any funky contract. Only if you
> want the proprietary minutes and uncertain levels of data access do you
> pay the $59.99 a month fee.

Actually, Apple is pretty clear that you can't even sync it with iTunes
unless you activate it with AT&T first.

I suspect you could cancel the contract early, pay the $175 termination
fee, and have an iPhone that was off-network and still worked as an iPod
and for Internet stuff via WiFi. But I doubt many people will buy one
with that in mind. There is the possibility that Apple might introduce
such a device as a next-gen iPod, however.

> but the phone is yours, ATT doesn't have any say on the phone. A first
> for the industry.
>
> once Skype, or Apple's rumored iTalk is on the iPhone, ATT is toast.

iPhones probably will be hacked to run Skype. But open wireless
coverage, while pretty widespread in major cities, is not good enough
that you could walk down the street talking on the phone using Skype.
For one thing, there's no mechanism in place whereby you can maintain an
active voice connection while moving from one access point to the next.

Maybe in five or ten years.

--
"That's George Washington, the first president, of course. The interesting thing
about him is that I read three--three or four books about him last year. Isn't
that interesting?"
- George W. Bush to reporter Kai Diekmann, May 5, 2006

Justin <[email protected]> wrote:

> > apple isn't allowing ATT to play silly games with the iphone. when you
> > buy an iPhone, it's YOURS, not tied to any funky contract. Only if you
> > want the proprietary minutes and uncertain levels of data access do you
> > pay the $59.99 a month fee.
> >
> > but the phone is yours, ATT doesn't have any say on the phone. A first
> > for the industry.
> >
> > once Skype, or Apple's rumored iTalk is on the iPhone, ATT is toast.
>
> So, where do you live that wifi is so ubiquitous? Lala land? Do they
> have fairy princesses and unicorns, too?

I live in the USA, currently on my powerbook i see 12 wifi points, 4 are
fully open. (the green dot means open) so just select a green dot and
you are now able to make free phone calls.

It will be this way for everyone in 10 years, sell all Cell Stock,
you've been official warned.

"Justin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Oxford wrote on [Tue, 26 Jun 2007 18:12:33 -0600]:
>> Justin <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> > apple isn't allowing ATT to play silly games with the iphone. when you
>>> > buy an iPhone, it's YOURS, not tied to any funky contract. Only if you
>>> > want the proprietary minutes and uncertain levels of data access do
>>> > you
>>> > pay the $59.99 a month fee.
>>> >
>>> > but the phone is yours, ATT doesn't have any say on the phone. A first
>>> > for the industry.
>>> >
>>> > once Skype, or Apple's rumored iTalk is on the iPhone, ATT is toast.
>>>
>>> So, where do you live that wifi is so ubiquitous? Lala land? Do they
>>> have fairy princesses and unicorns, too?
>>
>> I live in the USA, currently on my powerbook i see 12 wifi points, 4 are
>> fully open. (the green dot means open) so just select a green dot and
>> you are now able to make free phone calls.
>
> I see one wifi point, the one I provide for myself.
>
> When I drive there are zero wifi points. At my office there are zero.
>
> You're living in a fantasy land.

No. Just a dense area. At work and at home I see between 18 and 25 access
points. Very few of them are open, though.

Greg
--
Ticketbastard tax tracker:
http://ticketmastersucks.org/tracker.html

Dethink to survive - Mclusky

"Oxford" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> [email protected] wrote:
>
>> On Jun 26, 4:35 pm, Oxford <[email protected]> wrote:
>> > Leave it to Apple to finally make ACTIVATING a cell phone simple.
>> >
>> > This is huge, and will leave Verizon, Nokia, T-Mobile in the dust. The
>> > era of the painful activation process is now over, that is, if you have
>> > an iPhone. Congrats to Apple for solving another major hassle in life!
>>
>> Indeed - way to go Apple! No more dealing with arrogant sales punks,
>> yay!
>
> yes! i've never understood why they have so many phone stores and
> "punks" in the first place. sounds like they are making too much money
> for no good reason. apple will put a stop to that in a hurry.
>
> getting rid of the "go into a store" for activation concept is long over
> due, and now the iPhone will make it standard across the industry for
> every cell phone buyer. great!

Having never owned a personal cell phone (only work phones) I didn't even
know that was the case. Definitely a good move by Apple.

Greg
--
Ticketbastard tax tracker:
http://ticketmastersucks.org/tracker.html

Dethink to survive - Mclusky